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Questions about Local Keys? Tips first, then answers to common questions. Still stuck? Send us a message.

Tips & tricks

Dictate while you scroll. Once you start dictating you can scroll, read or switch apps. Tap Done when you've finished: the text is typed when the keyboard is back, and copied to the clipboard.
Recent dictations. Tap the keyboard's gear, then Recent dictations, and tap one to type it again.
Start without switching apps. Add Local Keys Mic or Local Keys Dictate to Control Center, set one on the Action Button, or use Back Tap: Settings › Accessibility › Touch › Back Tap › Dictate with Local Keys.
Say punctuation and emoji. Say "comma", "question mark", "exclamation point" or "new line", and "period" at the end of a sentence. For emoji, say the name and then "emoji": "smiley face emoji" (😊), "winking face emoji" (😉), "thumbs up emoji" (👍).
Teach it names. Fix a misheard name once, and Local Keys spells it your way next time.
Make it your main keyboard. In iPhone Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards, tap Edit and drag Local Keys to the top.
Works offline. Once a speech model is downloaded, dictation works without a connection.

Why does the keyboard ask for Full Access?

iOS asks before any keyboard can do more than basic typing. Local Keys uses Full Access so the keyboard can receive your dictation from the Local Keys app on the same iPhone, and to play key-press haptics. iOS shows the same general warning for every keyboard that asks; the Local Keys keyboard is built without networking code, and we run no servers that receive your voice or text. To turn it on: Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › Local Keys › Allow Full Access. What the keyboard keeps on your iPhone is listed in the Privacy Policy.

Does it work offline?

Yes, once a speech model is downloaded. Speech is turned into text on your iPhone, so dictation keeps working with no signal or in Airplane Mode. The internet is used to download the speech models you choose, by Apple's own services such as the App Store (for example to buy or restore Local Keys Pro), and to open our help and feedback forms in Safari if you choose to.

Why is there a second mic under the keyboard?

That one is Apple's. iOS puts its own dictation mic below the keyboard, whichever keyboard you use. The Local Keys mic is the one on the keyboard itself. If you'd rather hide Apple's (optional), turn off Dictation in Settings › General › Keyboard. That also turns off dictation in Apple's own keyboard.

Can I select text with the space bar like older iPhones?

iOS doesn't let keyboards other than Apple's select text. Local Keys can move the cursor: hold the space bar, then slide.

How do I restore purchases?

On your new or reset iPhone, sign in with the same Apple Account, open Local Keys and tap Restore Purchases. Local Keys Pro comes back at no charge.

How do refunds work?

All payments go through Apple, and Apple decides each refund request. In Local Keys, go to Settings › Help, Feedback & Legal › Request a Refund, or visit reportaproblem.apple.com. Step-by-step help, and how to cancel a subscription: Refunds and Cancelling.

Anything to keep in mind when dictating?

Speech recognition can mishear words, so read your text before you send it. See Using dictation responsibly.